Apparatus and method for controlling a resonator

{
  "publication_number": "US11290084B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Apparatus and method for controlling a resonator",
  "abstract": "A method and apparatus for modifying or controlling a resonator connected to a signal loop having an input (18828), an output (18822), and a closed loop frequency response. The signal loop has a primary resonator (18810) having a primary frequency response. There is at least one adjustable resonator (18812) having an adjustable frequency (f) and a secondary Q-factor. An adjustable scaling block (18824) applies a gain factor (g). A controller is connected to the at least one adjustable resonator (18812) and the adjustable scaling block (18824). The controller has instructions to adjust the closed loop frequency response toward a desired closed loop frequency response by controlling the adjustable frequency (f) of the at least one adjustable resonator (18812) and the gain factor (g) of the adjustable scaling block (18824).",
  "claims": [
    "1. A resonant circuit, comprising: a signal loop having an input, an output, and a closed loop frequency response, the signal loop comprising: a primary resonator having a primary frequency response, and a primary Q-factor; at least one adjustable resonator having an adjustable frequency and a secondary Q-factor, the primary Q-factor being greater than the secondary Q-factor by a factor of about 10 or more; and an adjustable scaling block that applies a gain factor; and a controller connected to the at least one adjustable resonator and the adjustable scaling block, the controller comprising instructions to adjust the closed loop frequency response toward a desired closed loop frequency response by controlling the adjustable frequency of the at least one adjustable resonator and the gain factor of the adjustable scaling block.",
    "2. The resonant circuit of claim 1, wherein the primary Q-factor is greater than the secondary Q-factor by a factor of about 100 or more.",
    "3. The resonant circuit of claim 1, wherein the primary frequency response of the primary resonator is within a predetermined error factor of the desired frequency response, and the controller controls the closed loop frequency response within the predetermined error factor of the primary resonator.",
    "4. The resonant circuit of claim 1, wherein the primary resonator is a fixed resonator or a resonator that is tunable in frequency.",
    "5. The resonant circuit of claim 1, wherein the primary resonator is an antenna, and the antenna comprises the input of the signal loop.",
    "6. The resonant circuit of claim 1, wherein the signal loop further comprises a phase shifter that applies an adjustable delay factor, the controller being connected to control the phase shifter.",
    "7. The resonant circuit of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of adjustable resonators connected in series or in parallel.",
    "8. The resonant circuit of claim 1, wherein the primary resonator is an electrical resonator, an electromagnetic resonator, a mechanical resonator, or a resonator based on material properties.",
    "9. The resonant circuit of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of primary resonators connected in parallel or in series within the signal loop.",
    "10. The resonant circuit of claim 1, wherein the signal loop comprises: a first component comprising the primary resonator; and a second component comprising the at least one adjustable resonator; wherein the first component is fabricated from a first material, and the second component is fabricated from a second material that is different than the first material.",
    "11. The resonant circuit of claim 10, wherein the first component and the second component are fabricated as separate and distinct components.",
    "12. A method of modifying a closed loop frequency response of a resonant circuit, the resonant circuit comprising a signal loop having an input, an output, a primary resonator that has a primary frequency response, at least one adjustable resonator having an adjustable frequency, and an adjustable scaling block having a gain factor, the method comprising the steps of: controlling the frequency of the at least one adjustable resonator and the gain factor of the adjustable scaling block to adjust the closed loop frequency response of the resonant circuit toward a desired closed loop frequency response, wherein a Q-factor of the primary resonator is greater than a Q-factor of the at least one adjustable resonator by a factor of about 10 or more.",
    "13. The method of claim 12, wherein the Q-factor of the primary resonator is greater than the Q-factor of the at least one adjustable resonator by a factor of about 100 or more.",
    "14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of adjusting the primary frequency response of the primary resonator.",
    "15. The method of claim 12, wherein the primary resonator is an antenna, and the antenna comprises the input of the signal loop.",
    "16. The method of claim 12, wherein the signal loop further comprises a phase shifter, and wherein adjusting the closed loop frequency response further comprises adjusting the phase of the phase shifter.",
    "17. The method of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of adjustable resonators connected in series or in parallel.",
    "18. The method of claim 12, wherein the primary resonator is an electrical resonator, an electromagnetic resonator, a mechanical resonator, or a resonator based on material properties.",
    "19. The method of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of primary resonators connected in parallel or in series within the signal loop.",
    "20. The method of claim 12, wherein the signal loop comprises: a first component comprising the primary resonator; and a second component comprising the at least one adjustable resonator; wherein the first component is fabricated from a first material, and the second component is fabricated from a second material that is different than the first material.",
    "21. The method of claim 20, wherein the first component and the second component are fabricated as separate and distinct components."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This disclosure relates to the coupling of resonant structures - a primary resonator of interest, and a secondary variable resonator - in a manner such that the closed loop characteristics of the primary resonator is modified by adjusting elements in a signal loop that also includes the primary resonator.\n\nResonant structures are a common element of many electronic circuits. These resonant structures may have a fixed performance characteristic, or they may be adjustable based on control signals applied to the resonant structure or physical changes to the resonant structures. Resonators are deployed in all manner of communication circuits, one example of which is radio frequency (RF) filters.\n\nRF filters with moderate to high Qs on the order of 100 or more may also be found in communication circuits. Mechanical resonator filters, such as MEMs, are also finding a place in modern technology circuits.\n\nAntennas as Resonators:\n\nSome resonator applications are found within antennas, where the antenna circuit is designed to both tune the antenna to a specific frequency band and provide impedance matching, generally to a common reference impedance of 50Ω. Antenna impedance matching, especially for electrically small antennas (ESA) in RF applications, has been generally accomplished by use of lumped impedance matching components that provide a fixed antenna impedance. These ESA antennas are commonly, but not exclusively, half-wavelength dipole or even quarter wave monopole antennas that must be designed for a specific application frequency or frequency range.",
  "cpc": [
    "H03H 9/6433",
    "H03B 5/00",
    "H03H 11/12",
    "H03H 11/1291",
    "H03H 2210/012",
    "H03H 2210/015",
    "H03H 2210/017",
    "H03H 2210/021",
    "H03H 2210/025",
    "H03H 3/013",
    "H03H 9/542",
    "H03H 9/545",
    "H03H 9/6403",
    "H04B 1/401",
    "H04B 17/12"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "H03H 11/12",
    "H03H 9/54",
    "H03H 9/64",
    "H04B 17/12"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Anlotek Ltd"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Jorgen Staal Nielsen",
    "Richard Nichols"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2018-05-24",
  "publication_date": "2022-03-29",
  "grant_date": "2022-03-29",
  "priority_date": "2017-05-24",
  "application_number": "US-201816616926-A",
  "family_id": "64395340",
  "cited_by_count": 25,
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